The efficiency of the container shipping industry and the development of a performance measurement system

Date
2012-03
Authors
Olivier, Taryn Lynn
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An efficient container shipping industry is something every country strives toward. Continuous improvement in this industry is of utmost importance in order to grow a country’s economy. One of the objectives of this research study is to determine the inefficiencies that exist within the South African container shipping industry. A lot of these inefficiencies cannot be eliminated by a single organisation, but require the cooperation of all the parties in a supply chain. Currently there is not enough interaction between the organisations in the supply chain apart from limited contact with direct customers and suppliers. The aim of the performance measurement system is to drive organisations throughout the supply chain to focus on the areas that require the most improvement. If inefficiencies are identified, the parties concerned should jointly come up with action plans to address these inefficiencies. This research study will focus mostly on the Cape Town region. The performance measurement system (PMS) developed in this study can be used to improve supply chain efficiency. Existing PMSs were researched in order to develop a system that is applicable to the container industry. Research of the industry was done with the aid of questionnaires, interviews, surveys and a focus group. The benefits of such a system should be carefully explained to representatives of the organisations in the industry to attract their participation. The success of the system is highly dependent on how well the parties in the supply chain participate, as it is only then that the efficiency of a supply chain can be measured. Management representatives were asked to indicate which key performance indicators they are measuring. This information was used as a basis for the study. There are various parties that are currently busy with similar studies, which emphasises the increased need for a supply chain PMS in the container shipping industry. Two case studies were identified that will benefit from a PMS. BMW’s manufacturing plant in Rosslyn and the fruit export industry in the Cape Town region were used as examples of integrated supply chains. The PMS can be easily adapted in order to apply it to other corridors or commodities.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Doeltreffende houer verskepingsindustrie is iets waarna elke land streef. Konstante verbeterings in die industrie is baie belangrik vir ‘n land se ekonomie. Een van die doelwitte van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om te bepaal wat die ondoeltreffendhede in die houer verskepingsindustrie is. Baie van hierdie ondoeltreffendhede kan nie deur een organisasie opgelos of geïlimineer word nie. Dit moet deur die hele voorsieningsketting gesamentlik gedoen word. Daar is tans te min samewerking tussen organisasies in die voorsieningsketting. In die meeste gevalle werk organisasies slegs met hulle onmiddelike kliënte en verskaffers. ‘n Voorsieningsketting meting-stelsel sal verseker dat daar op die regte aspekte gefokus word. As ‘n ondoeltreffendheid geïdentifiseer word, is dit die verantwoordelikheid van die hele voorsieningsketting om te verseker dat die ondoeltreffendheid geïlimineer word. Dit sal beslis samewerking bevorder. Die navorsingsprojek fokus meestal op Kaapstad. Bestaande meting-stelsels was geondersoek om ‘n stelsel te ontwikkel wat van toepassing is op die houer verskepingsindustrie. Navorsing was gedoen deur middel van vraelyste, onderhoude, opnames en ‘n fokusgroep. Die doel van die meting-stelsel is om organisasies regdeur die voorsieningsketting te dryf om te fokus op die areas wat die meeste verbetering benodig. Die voordele van die stelsel moet noukeurig aan die bestuursverteenwoordigers van die organisasies in die voorsieningsketting verduidelik word sodat hulle sal deelneem aan die inisiatief. Die sukses van die meting-stelsel hang af van hoeveel organisasies sal deelneem. Die doeltreffendheid van ‘n voorsieningsketting sal eers werklik gemeet kan word as daar ‘n redelike groot belangstelling vanaf die industrie is. Bestuursverteenwoordigers was gevra om aan te dui watter prestasie-aanwysers hulle tans meet. Hierdie inligting was gebruik as ‘n basis vir die studie. Daar is tans verskeie partye wat besig is met soortgelyke navorsing. Dit beklemtoon die feit dat ‘n voorsieningsketting meting-stelsel werklik nodig is vir die houer verskepingsindustrie. Twee gevalle studies was geïdentifeseer dat hulle sal voordeel trek uit die implementering van ‘n voorsieningsketting meting-stelsel. BMW se Rosslyn voorsieningsketting en die vrugte uitvoer industrie in Kaapstad was gebruik as voorbeelde van geïntegreerde voorsieningskettings. Die meting-stelsels kan maklik aangepas word vir ander kommoditeite.
Description
Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Container industry, Performance measurement system, Supply chain, Dissertations -- Industrial engineering, Theses -- Industrial engineering
Citation